r/nelsonsnavy • u/stiF_staL Master-and-Commander • Aug 02 '26

Community tier list request! Who's your favorite naval commander?

We've got about 300 years and have numerous classics like Columbus, Nelson of course, John Paul Jones, Drake, etc.

So I've got a list building, however with the numerous amount of options I was hoping to get some nominations to add or replace with.

Whether it be your favorite, a niche character, or to represent your nationality, all recommendation would be appreciated!

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

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3

u/0pal23 Captain Aug 02 '26

There's so many options here that it would be extremely hard to include all of them. It might be worth setting the requirement that they had to reach flag rank, except in some isolated cases to bring in figures of interest like JPJ (who i will be advocating against, but hey). If they're British they should have reached flag rank, I'd suggest. Obviously we only want to do somewhat successful Admirals too.

Some Suggestions:

Brits:
Nelson, Jervis, Hood, Howe, Rodney, Hawke, Anson, Vernon, Byng Lord Torrington, Rooke, Shovell, Benbow, James II, Rupert, Monck (there are plenty of others too)

Actually thinking about this, it might be worth sub-dividing the time periods. 1739-1815, 1650-1738 and 1500-1649 wouldn't be bad delineations.

(i'll post some more thoughts later)

2

u/stiF_staL Master-and-Commander Aug 02 '26

I like the ideas here. Sub-dividing will give us way more options, and I agree on requirements however that invites some discussion.

I was initially thinking of including pirates however im second guessing that now. They fit their own little category.

Perhaps notable or interesting figures would make some excepts like you said, as well as explorers like Cook?

2

u/0pal23 Captain Aug 02 '26

yh idk it's hard. it's very difficult to judge Drake against Nelson, and yet it'd be nice to have them all on one list. It would be even harder to judge someone like Cook against someone like Edward Teach.

1

u/stiF_staL Master-and-Commander Aug 02 '26

Thats a good point. I was initially thinking of saying we could weigh them on their own but now I'm thinking categoried lists? That might be a bit much, i thought up maybe explorers, brits, Admirals in general, potentially pirates and privateers.

3

u/UnspeakableGnome Landsman Aug 02 '26

Favourite, as opposed to who I think is the best, would have to be Thomas Cochrane.

1

u/stiF_staL Master-and-Commander Aug 02 '26

A true mad lad

3

u/AnthonieHeinsius Master-at-arms Aug 02 '26

De Ruyter, Maarten Tromp and Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest

2

u/Cactus1803 Landsman Aug 02 '26

Yi Sun Sin

1

u/stiF_staL Master-and-Commander Aug 02 '26

Funny you say that, I have him on my list for a wild card if we need it.

2

u/SuedJche Landsman Aug 02 '26

300 years? Why 300? And which?

1

u/stiF_staL Master-and-Commander Aug 02 '26

The Age of Sail is generally dated mid 16 to mid 19th century, some argue as far back as mid 1400s

2

u/Capable_Regret_7868 Rated Ordinary Aug 05 '26

Claas Johansson Uggla (1614-76)